ospital can stre

fall, held together by nothing but routine. Wake up. Shower in the staff bathroom. Sit by Matthew 's bed

e carts. The murmur of late-night nurses. Matthew 's breathing when

d, "You can take him home today

om

ely in her chest. Heavy

e d

ything was passing too fast. His parents followed behind in another car. Clara sat in the passenger

as afraid that if she looked at him t

e to rush," Cla

Her voice was calm, too

d slightly at

allowed

hat information away somew

veway, Matthew leaned forward,

are we?"

sliced clean

and turned off the e

said gently

t her then.

ated, testing t

aid. "Yours a

ming over the house-the wide porch, the flowerbeds he'd once pl

ntering a place he'd seen in a dr

paused in th

... nice,

intly. "You ch

ed at it.

able enough to fall aslee

a smile. His mother claspe

though his eyes

opening doors. The study. The

hed the bedro

s hung. The throw blanket was folded at the foot of

ped inside, s

. The shirts Ava had ironed a hundred times. He pulled

strange,"

oorway, her heart p

place," he said. "Like my body re

than if he'd sai

y before her fa

o eat," she said quickl

autopilot. She knew exactly

fav

ts when he came home late. The one he used to jo

ed it the way he liked. Set it in

at the food. He

est tig

?" she asked softly.

I'm not sure," he said. "I don't...

ite. He chewed slo

dded. "I

in

e a dismissal. Not

. Sat beside him a

e-his parents filling the silence, Cl

your first bike?

No

childho

ook hi

ands rested in her lap,

lara brought out

help," she

hem across the

pictures, birthdays, holi

ipped through them. Searched for som

of them laughing under fairy lights on their

it. Long a

ppy," he sa

e," she w

then turn

thi

tories told. Memories offe

e of the

to leave. Clara hugged Ava tig

she whispered. "

w quiet again, Ava stood in

dge of the bed, hands

uld I sleep

ion nearly

room," she sa

ed. Then no

r back to him. Slid under the co

d felt

ly beside her, sta

y," he sai

r wh

. "I can see it on your face.

roat ti

o apologize," she

ettled bet

kness, her heart achin

in. I'll be patient. I'll remind you

n if he didn

s still

still the ma